World Bank Economist Examines Roots, Causes of Arab Spring

The Chief Economist of the World Bank's Middle East and North Africa Region Shanta Devarjan analyzed the economic outlook for the MENA after the Arab Uprising, in a round table held at the Ibrahim Abu Lughod Institute for International Studies on November 6, 2016.

Devarjan examined the economic reasons behind the Arab uprisings that emerged in 2010, despite the patent growth in the living standards, and economic conditions of the Arab countries. He then offered an economic perspective to the emergence and reasons of spread of radical movements during the Arab spring, focusing on Da'esh,

A lively discussion arose between the speaker and the attendees, which included the Institute's faculty members and a number of International Studies students.

Devarjan joined the World Bank in 1991, and has been a Principal Economist and Research Manager for Public Economics in the Development Research Group. He has been the Chief Economist of the Human Development Network, the South Asia Region and Africa Region. He was the director of the World Development Report 2004, Making Services Work for Poor People.